Providing Care From Afar: A Growing Yet Understudied Phenomenon in the Caregiving Field

Abstract

Given the aging population and increasing life expectancy, the need on the part of older and ill populations for long-term care has risen rapidly (Roth et al., 2015). As a result, unpaid informal care is becoming even more important for health and social care delivery worldwide. Informal care refers to the provision of unpaid care to a relative or friend with a chronic illness, disability, or other long-lasting health needs (Revenson et al., 2016). A substantial body of literature has documented the psychosocial and physical consequences of the caregiving role. Recent studies have reported caregiver burden and strain as a multidimensional response to the psychological, physical, and financial stressors associated with the caregiving experience (Chiao et al., 2015; Faronbi et al., 2019). Emotional distress, anxiety, and impaired self-care are also commonplace among caregivers, attributed to the caregiving demands engendered by the care recipient's illness (Schulz et al., 2008; Bauer and Sousa-Poza, 2015). The increased mobilization of our society and globalization of the workplace have resulted in additional challenges for many of these informal caregivers, especially adult children of aging parents; that is, difficulties that stem from living far away from the care recipients (Baldock, 2000; Bevan and Sparks, 2011). It is estimated that ∼15-20% of all informal caregivers are distance caregivers (DCGs) (Douglas et al., 2016). The reasons for the geographic distance might include career or education, military deployment, divorce, or a simple life choice (Stafford, 2004). DCGs engage in many supportive activities to meet the needs of their loved ones, such as assisting with financial and bureaucratic issues, providing social and emotional support, and even performing practical and nursing tasks, which, naturally, are more difficult to perform from a geographic distance (Parker et al., 2006; Cagle and Munn, 2012). In fact, nearly three quarters of DCGs assist with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as managing medications, arranging transportation, doing housework, and coordinating care with the local support of family, friends, or paid carers (Koerin and Harrigan, 2015). Despite the above, current research on the unique needs and experiences of DCGs is limited. In the few studies conducted, DCGs have reported feelings of anxiety, stress, helplessness, and guilt related to their geographic distance from the care recipient (Schoonover et al., 1988; Mazanec, 2009). Experiencing the added stressors associated with caring from a distance, DCGs have also reported higher levels of uncertainty, inadequacy, and distress, especially if their resources for travel are limited (Harrigan and Koerin, 2007; Douglas et al., 2016). The National Alliance for Caregiving and American Association of Retired Persons survey (National Alliance for Caregiving/American Association of Retired Persons, 2004) revealed a critical association between caring from a geographic distance and stress, with 47% of caregivers who lived ...

Patterns of stress and support in social support networks of in-home hospice cancer family caregivers

“…fact, be closer both geographically and interpersonally than some family members (Bei et al, 2020). In fact, our participants often reported non-family members offered support without the co-occurring stress often seen in family members.…”

A Multinational Longitudinal Study Incorporating Intensive Methods to Examine Caregiver Experiences in the Context of Chronic Health Conditions: Protocol of the ENTWINE-iCohort

“…Research has commonly identified love and affection as the primary motivation for adopting a typically unpaid caregiver role [ 7 , 8 ] along with motives of duty and reciprocity [ 9 ]. However the complexity of dyadic relationships and attachments [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], the existence of varying cultural norms, values and obligations [ 15 , 16 ], competing social and economic demands on potential caregivers [ 17 ] and the fact that modern families tend not to be as geographically co-located as in previous generations [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ] are less typically examined in relation to their influence on caregiver motivations. We face major challenges if we are to meet the demand for care (including informal care) across Europe on a societal (and often familial) assumption of family member willingness to adopt a caregiving role in the home or community.…”

Motivations and willingness to provide care from a geographical distance, and the impact of distance care on caregivers’ mental and physical health: a mixed-method systematic review protocol

“…Overall, travel time and space along with a number of socioeconomic factors which are confounded with distance, such as travel costs and access to transportation, will influence distance caregiving-in its existence as well as in its extent. 16 In their previous review, Cagle and Munn 17 suggested that the definition of distance care as articulated by Parker et al 18 is the most comprehensive and compelling. Indeed, the definition appears to be appropriate as it operationalises geographical distance without focusing exclusively on distance and travel time but also on a number of other socioeconomic factors that determine geographical distance and affect distance care provision.…”